HUNTED   DOWN: 


Five  Days  in'  the  Fog. 


a  grilling  Narrattfce 


ESCAPE    OF     YOUNG    (1RANICE 


DRUNKEN,   INFURIATED   MOB. 


en  by  himself  while  in  jail,  and  respectfully 
dedicated  to  }Ar.  JVicholas  green. 


n:\xoi800: 

1875. 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

The  Peter  and  Rosell  Harvey 
Memorial  Fund 


HUNTED   DOWN: 


Five  Days  in  the  Fog. 


&  grilling  Natratt&e 


ESCAPE    OF   YOUNG    GRANICE 


DRUNKEN,   INFURIATED   MOB. 


Written  by  himself  while  in,  jail,  and  respectfully 
dedicated  to  Jtfr.  Jsficholas  green. 


SAN    FRANCISCO : 

I  ||  IN-  .TON    ST. 

1875. 


PEEFAOE. 


I  write  this  narrative  -while  confined  in  the  Modesto  jail  awaiting  my 
trial  for  the  shooting  of  the  defamer  of  my  mother's  name  on  the  7th 
of  December,  1874.  It  will  be  seen  by  reading  the  following  statement, 
that  I  gave  myself  up  to  the  sheriff  to  be  held  to  await  the  decision  of 
the  law.  I  will  here  explain  why  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  be  taken  to 
the  Modesto  jail.  There  was  no  safe  jail  at  Merced,  and  it  had  been  the 
custom  for  several  months  to  take  Merced  prisoners  to  Modesto,  a  town 
in  the  adjoining  county,  and  a  distance  of  about  forty  miles.  The  cars 
passed  through  Merced  about  noon  on  the  day  of  the  shooting,  five  hours 
after  the  affair  happened,  and  direct  to  Modesto.  Why  did  not  the  sheriff 
improve  this  opportunity  of  taking  me  to  a  place  of  safety  ?  Failing  in 
that,  a  good  span  of  horses  could  have  conveyed  us  to  Modesto  during 
the  afternoon.  He  knew  the  jail  was  not  safe,  and  instead  of  doing  what 
every  sensible  man  would  conceive  to  be  a  sheriff's  duty,  he  chose  rather 
to  send  me  out  handcuffed,  with  two  men,  on  a  public  highway,  to  a  lone 
wayside  inn,  seven  miles  from  Merced,  and  ten  from  Snellings.  It  seems 
from  my  brother's  and  several  other  gentlemen's  statement,  that  every 
horse  was  engaged  at  the  livery  stable  in  Merced  before  eight  o'clock 
on  that  night. 

There  is  another  question  which  will  naturally  arise  in  the  thinking 
mind:  Where  did  the  sheriff  go,  and  what  was  he  doing  that  night  while 
the  mob  was  getting  ready  ?    The  mystery  may  be  solved  some  day. 

I  wish  to  show  in  this  simple  statement  that  I  did  not  flee  coward-like 
from  justice,  but  that  I  was  making  my  escape  from  a  drunken  infuri- 
ated mob,  after  being  duly  liberated  by  the  deputy  sheriff.  I  understand 
that  the  mob,  or  a  portion  of  the  mob  that  night  returned  and  destroyed 
my  step-father's  printing  office,  although  the  sheriff  was  in  town. 

H.  H.  GBANICE. 


jhunlftl  floutn ;  or,    fine  Sags  in  the   fog. 


Oh,  why  this  fog,  so  thick  and  dark  for  five  long  days  and  nights? 
It  seems  as  though  kind  Providence  has  veiled  the  heavenly  lights, 
That  he  who  seeks  his  life  to  save  shall  live  the  tale  to  tell 
Of  drunken  mobs  and  demon  cries,  like  legions  just  from  hell. 

On  Monday  morning,  at  about  fifteen  minutes  to  eight 
o'clock,  December  7th,  1874,  immediately  after  the  shoot- 
ing, or  as  soon  thereafter  as  I  could  collect  my  scattered 
senses,  which  was  in  about  three  minutes,  I  inquired  for 
the  sheriff  for  the  purpose  of  giring  myself  up;  but  lie 
nor  any  of  his  deputies  were  on  the  spot.  After  waiting 
a  few  minutes  longer  I  began  to  grow  impatient  at  the 
delay  of  the  officers,  and  not  wishing  to  move  from  the 
scene  of  shooting  for  fear  the  movement  would  be  mis- 
construed and  I  bo  accused  of  trying  to  effect  an  escape, 
I  sent  a  messenger  in  quest  of  Sheriff  Meany  (I  forget 
now  who  the  messenger  was).  In  a  short  time  thereafter 
Sheriff  Meany  arrived  on  the  spot,  and  perceiving  him, 
I  addressed  him  thus:  •*  Sheriff  Meany,  I  am  your  pris- 
oner." He  grabbed  me  in  rather  a  rough  manner  by 
the  lappel  of  my  coat,  took  me  to  the  lock-up,  thence  to 
the  El  Capitan  hotel,  and  after  remaining  at  the  latter 
place  for  half  an  hour  (for  what  reason  I  know  not),  he 
conducted  me  back  to  the  lock-up,  thrust  me  in,  and 
turned  the  key  on  me.  In  a  short  time  thereafter  my 
breakfast  was  brought  to  me  without  knife  or  fork  to  eat 
with.  The  victuals  were  not  fit  for  a  dog  to  eat.  I  so 
expressed  myself  to  Meany,  and  asked  him  to  give  me  a 


decent  breakfast.  He  answered  me  thus:  "  That  has  got 
to  answer.  Can't  treat  you  different  from  other  prison- 
ers." With  the  exception  of  the  coffee,  I  set  the  break- 
fast aside. 

In  the  meantime,  quite  a  crowd  had  collected  outside 
the  jail,  and  Meany  was  inciting  them  to  mob  violence 
by  his  vindictive  expressions  against  me.  I  kept  per- 
fectly quiet  and  said  nothing  to  Meany  nor  his  deputies. 
Suspecting  the  duplicity  of  Meany,  I  despatched  a  cou- 
rier for  my  brother  George,  who  was  living  some  fifteen 
miles  north  of  Merced.  My  brother  arrived  in  town 
about  noon,  and  immediately  came  to  me.  He  was 
searched  by  Meany  and  then  admitted  into  the  lock-up. 
He  had  hardly  shaken  hands  with  me  when  he  heard 
Meany  say  something,  and  turning  to  me,  remarked: 
4iI  hear  Meany  talking,  and  I  think  it  unsafe  to  be  in 
here,  as  I  am  in  their  power  while  shut  up  in  here." 
He  immediately  asked  to  be  let  out,  and  his  request  was 
acceded  to.  In  the  course  of  the  day  a  fellow  named 
Packard,  a  shoulder-hitter  of  Meany's,  came  skulking 
around  the  jail  and,  picking  up  a  gun,  attempted  to 
get  an  opportunity  to  shoot  me  through  the  bars  of  the 
lock-up.  I  perceived  his  intention  in  time  to  hug  the  wall 
directly  under  the  bars,  thereby  preventing  him  from  as- 
sassinating me.  The  deputy  sheriff  told  him  to  put  the 
gun  down;  that  he  had  no  right  to  pick  it  up.  After  loiter- 
ing around  a  few  minutes  longer,  Meany  came  up,  and 
then  this  Packard  commenced  to  annoy  me  with  insult- 
ing remarks;  and  although  Meany  was  there  and  heard 
him,  he  said  nothing  to  him.  He  left  shortly  after,  indulg- 
ing in  the  remarks  mentioned  above,  and  I  afterwards 
learned  that  he  returned  and  tried  to  shoot  me  through 
the  bars  of  the  jail  with  a  pistol.  I  knew  that  my  dan- 
ger was  great,  and  my  only  hope  was  in  my  friends  pro- 
tecting me,  not  the  Sheriff,  for  he  had  expressed  himself 
in  such  a  free  manner  in  my  hearing,  although  he  did 
not  know  that  I  was  listening,  that  I  knew  there  was  no 


protection  to-  hope  for  from  that  source.  Knowing  this,  I 
did  not  beseech  him  to  save  me;  I  merely  asked  him,, 
when  I  gave  myself  into  his  custodv,  to  take  me  before 
a  justice  of  the  peace;  I  would  waive  an  examination 
and  go  to  Modesto.  It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when  I  delivered  myself  up  to  Meany. 

The  cars  would  leave  for  Modesto  at  1  p.  m.  There 
were,  therefore,  five  hours  in  which  to  allow  me  to  do 
that  which  would  take  but  ten  minutes,  to  wit — take  me 
before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  allow  me  to  waive  an 
examination.  I  told  him  it  was  dangerous  for  me  to  re- 
main in  Merced,  and  I  wanted  to  waive,  and  go  to  Mo- 
desto for  safety.  My  attorney,  P.  D.  Wigginton,  men- 
tioned the  matter  to  many  in  my  presence,  about  nine- 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  One  hour  passed — two  hours — 
three — four.  It  was  one  o'clock,  and  still  Meany  had 
done  nothiug,  although  repeatedly  urged  by  my  friends 
to  do  something.  Well,  when  one  o'clock  arrived,  and 
and  I  still  remained  in  the  lock-up,  I  knew  what  I  could 
expect  from  Meany.  I  then  made  up  my  mind  to  say 
nothing  to  him,  but  let  matters  take  their  course,  and 
await  developments.  He,  no  doubt,  was  surprised  that 
I  did  not  beg  him  to  take  me  to  some  place  of  safety; 
but  I  knew  it  was  useless  to  ask  him  to  save  my  life. 
I  had  asked  him  to  take  me  to  Modesto  in  order  to  pre- 
vent violence;  and  one  o'clock  arriving,  I  knew  what  his 
action  meant,  on  account  of  his  expressions  used  in  my 
bearing  while  I  was  lying  in  the  lock-up.  It  was  plain 
to  nit'  that  ho  was  in  sympathy  with  the  mob,  which  I 
knew  was  rising.  I  said  nothing,  but  kept  my  own 
eonneel. 

A  heavy  fog  came  up  about  five  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  it 
was  near  dark  at  that  hour.  Meany  opened  the  door  and 
ordered  me,  in  a  quick,  sharp,  rough  voice,  to  put  on  my 
coat,  which  1  had  taken  off  in  order  the  more  easily  to 
slip  through  the  hands  of  the  mob  in  case  they  broke  in 
Lock-up  to  take  me  out.    Said  Meany: 


I 

"Be  quick!  S*ut  your  coat  on.  Got  to  take  you  out 
*>f  this  right  now,  as  they  will  be  down  here  in  less  than 
an  hour  and  hang  you!  " 

I  merely  said  to  him,  "  Why  didn't  you  take  me  to 
Modesto  when  you  could  have  done  so  with  safety?" 

That  question  was  a  poser  to  him,  and  he  made  some 
inarticulate  reply.  I  put  on  my  coat,  and  accompanied 
by  Meany  and  Deputy  Sheriff  Breen,  one  carrying  a 
double-barreled  shot-gun,  the  other  a  repeating  rifle, 
started  towards  the  new  court  house,  which  lies  just  at 
the  edge  of  town.  Upon  reaching  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  enclosure  surrounding  the  building,  I  perceived 
a  thorough-brace  awaiting  us.  John  Hathaway  had  the 
lines,  and  I  was  hand-cuffed  and  put  in  the  carriage 
with  Deputy  Breen,  and  Meany  told  Breen  to  go  as  far  as 
the  Half- Way  House  and  there  stop.  After  giving  this 
•order,  he  started  back  to  towns  I  then  saw  through  the 
whole  arrangement.  He  had  put  me  into  the  hands  of 
a  deputy,  and  as  he  confidently  expected  the  mob  would 
hang  me,  he  would  be  free  from  blame,  and  could  say, 
««  Granice  was  not  in  my  hands,  but  in  the  hands  of  a 
deputy." 

During  all  this  time  I  said  nothing  although  I  thought 
a  great  deal.  Hathaway  drove,  according  to  Meany's  or* 
ders,  toward  the  Half-Way  House.  It  struck  me,  as 
well  as  the  deputy  sheriff  and  also  Hathaway  (as  I  after- 
wards learned  from  their  conversation),  that  the  mob 
was  lying  in  wait  at  the  bridge,  at  the  crossing  of  Bear 
Creek.  I  kept  a  sharp  look-out  ahead,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  Bear  Creek  bridge  loomed  up  through  the  fog, 
about  one  hundred  yards  ahead.  I  kept  a  steady  eye  on 
the  structure  as  we  drew  near,  expecting  every  second  to 
see  the  forms  of  the  devils. 

At  last  the  bridge  was  reached  and  crossed,  and  that 
which  I  most  dreaded  and  feared — the  crossing  of  Bear 
Creek  bridge — was  passed  in  safety.  While  crossing  the 
bridge,  I  looked  behind  and  perceived  eight  men  about 


one  hundred  yards  behind,  on  foot,  approaching  the 
bridge. 

The  programme  was  not  laid  down  quite  right.  They 
were  about  one  minute  behind  time,  thanks  to  John 
Hathaway's  rapid  driving,  who,  of  course,  together  with 
the  deputy  sheriff,  knew  nothing  of  the  little  arrange- 
ment to  get  me  on  the  road.  But  they  strongly  sus- 
pected,as  I  learned  from  a  word  that  I  caught  from  their 
whispered  conversation.  After  crossing  the  bridge* 
Hathaway  whipped  up  his  horses,  and  we  started  off  at  a 
rapid  pace  for  the  Half- Way  House.  I  heard  Deputy 
Sheriff  Breen  remark  to  Hathaway: 

"John,  its  strange  Meany  didn't  tell  us  to  keep  right 
on  to  Modesto,  instead  of  stopping  so  near  town.  But  I 
have  got  to  follow  instructions.  If  the  mob  comes,  I'll 
turn  Harry  loose,  d — — d  if  I  don't,  if  there  is  no  other 
lecourse." 

I  then  spoke  up  and  said:  «  Well,  Mr.  Breen,  if  you 
do,  and  I  am  alive,  you  will  find  me  in  the  Modesto  jail 
inside  of  a  week." 

He  then  remarked:  "  Oh,  they  may  not  come." 

The  above  remark  was  the  only  one  I  passed  from  the 
time  of  leaving  the  lock-up  till  I  arrived  at  the  Half* 
Way  House,  as  I  was  deeply  engaged  in  thought,  trying 
to  arrive  at  some  plan  to  outwit  the  mob,  whom  I  felt 
certain  would  be  on  my  tracks  ere  long,  if  they  were  not 
so  already.  It  was  half- past  seven  or  eight  o'clock  when 
we  arrived  at  the  Half- Way  House,  six  miles  north  of 
Merced.  I  was  led  into  the  house,  securely  handcuffed* 
The  horses  were  taken  out  of  their  traces;  then  supper 
was  ordered.  We  sat  down  to  the  table  and  eat  our  sup- 
per. After  finishing  my  repast,  I  was  conducted  to  a 
room  and  put  to  bed  with  the  handcuffs  on.  I  had  no 
sooner  laid  down  when  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  see 
my  brother  George  step  into  the  room — a  young  man 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  brave  as  a  lion.  Like  a 
sleuth-hound  he  had  scented  me  out.     It  was  then  be- 


8 

tween  eight  and  nine  o'clock.  In  presence  of  Hathaway, 
Breen  and  the  host,  we  held  a  hurried  conversation. 
George  was  armed  and  on  horseback,  but  his  horse  was 
completely  fagged  out.    He  said: 

"I  will  ride  to  town,  and  if  met  by  the  mob  on  the 
road,  I  will  put  spurs  to  my  horse  and  give  the  officer 
an  alarm." 

I  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  running  any  risk,  but  he 
would  not  listen  to  me.     He  said: 

"I  will  ride  towards  town;  if  I  reach  there  without  en- 
countering the  mob  I  will  get  a  fresh  horse  and  stand 
guard  at  the  bridge.' ' 

He  then  left.  I  afterward  learned  that  he  reached 
town  with  his  horse  completely  broken  down,  and  ap- 
plied to  all  their  livery  stables  for  another,  but  was  told 
that  they  were  all  engaged  (doubtless  to  the  mob). 

After  my  brother's  departure,  the  deputy  sheriff  re- 
mover* one  of  the  hand-cuffs  from  my  wrist,  fastened  it 
on  his  own,  and  got  in  bed  with  me,  Hathaway  and 
Powell,  the  proprietors  of  the  house,  standing  guard. 
Shortly  after  Breen  retired  I  dropped  off  asleep.  I  had 
slept  for  some  time  when  I  heard  Hathaway  call  to 
Breen  in  an  undertone: 

"  Wake  up,  Nick,  they  are  coming!" 

I  immediately  awoke  my  sleeping  bed-fellow,  who, 
jumping  up,  listened  for  a  moment.  Breen  stopped  to 
listen  again,  when  Hathaway  exclaimed,  "  For  God's 
sake,  Nick,  hurry  up;  they  are  right  here!  "  Hathaway 
was  white  as  a  sheet,  and  held  a  double  -  barreled  shot- 
gun in  his  hands  in  a  determined  manner,  while  Breen 
hastily  picked  up  his  pants  from  the  floor,  took  out  the 
key  of  the  hand-cuffs,  and  taking  me  by  my  extended 
wrist,  loosened  it  (it  seemed  an  age,  while  he  was  feeling 
in  his  pocket  for  the  key).  At  this  instant  I  heard  the 
fiends  for  the  first  time.  They  were  theu  about  one  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  house.  I  hurriedly  put  on  my  pants, 
shoes  and  vest,  and  catching  up  my  coat,  I  made  a  hasty 


9 

exit  out  of  the  back  door.  As  I  did  so,  a  terrible  shout 
vrent  up  from  the  throats  of  the  mob,  which  sounded 
like  the  yells  of  devils  from  the  lower  regions,  and  I 
thought  they  had  discovered  me  as  I  passed  out  of  the 
door.  As  soon  as  I  reached  the  open  air  I  got  down  on 
my  hands  andknees  and  crawled  very  softly  about  fifty 
yards  from  the  house,  when  I  stopped  and  put  my  ear  to 
the  ground  to  see  if  they  were  yet  on  my  track.  The 
fog  was  very  thick;  one  could  not  see  three  yards  ahead. 
I  listened  for  a  second;  then  caking  off  my  shoes  to  pre- 
vent making  a  noise,  and  putting  on  my  coat,  I  crawled 
about  one  thousand  yards.  I  then  stopped  to  think  what 
was  best  for  me  to  do  to  out- wit  those  seeking  my  life. 
I  argued  to  myself  that  it  was  best  to  tack  back  toward 
Merced,  as  the  mob  would  be  apt  to  pursue  me  north- 
ward and  eastward  that  night.  They  would  imagine,  so 
I  thought,  that  I  would  flee  before  them  and  strike  for 
the  Merced  river;  so  I  concluded  to  go  where  they  would 
least  expect  to  find  me.  I  would  return  and  strike  Bear 
Creek,  which  has  very  high  banks  and  a  narrow  chan- 
nel, but  which  at  that  time  contained  no  water.  If  I 
could  reach  the  creek  (which  was  some  seven  miles  off) 
before  day-break,  I  knew  I  would  be  safe  for  one  day, 
at  least,  provided  I  was  very  cautious.  With  this  reso- 
lution formed,  I  listened  for  a  few  seconds,  and  hearing 
nothing,  I  started  to  make  a  semi-circle  of  the  Half- Way 
House  in  order  to  get  on  the  other  side  of  it.  By  a 
bright  lit.' lit  which  the  fog  magnified  to  at  least  ten  times 
■••.  Which  kept  moving  to  and  fro  in  and  around  the 
Half  Way-House,  which  was  either  a  torch  or  a  lantern, 
1  knew  that  the  blood-thirsty  crew  were  searching  un- 
der the  porch  and  in  the  out-houses  for  me.  I  had  not 
proceeded  a  quarter  of  a  mile  after  taking  my  resolve  to 
get  between  the  mob  and  Merced,  when  I  came  to 
the  road  leading  from  the  above  houses  to  Cox's  Ferry. 
I  stopped  and  listened  for  a  second  and  peered  through 
the  fog,  which  was  growing  denser  and  more  dense  as 


10 

the  night  advanced,  but  could  discern  nothing  but  the 
bright  light  before  mentioned,  which  I  was  utilizing  as  a 
guide  to  travel  by.  I  then  crossed  the  road;  I  had  no 
sooner  done  so  than  I  discovered  two  horsemen  going 
toward  Snelling.  I  fell  flat  on  my  face,  scarcely  daring 
to  breathe,  and  they  passed  on  without  discovering  me. 
While  lying  down  I  watched  them  attentively  to  see  if 
they  suspected  their  close  proximity  to  me,  as  they  were 
riding  at  that  moment  very  slow,  and  were  apparently 
on  the  alert  for  any  sound  which  might  possibly  reach 
their  ears.  I  saw  several  more  horsemen,  but  luckily 
they  did  not  see  me  before  I  had  accomplished  the 
semi-circle  around  the  Half- Way  House;  but  after  accom- 
plishing that  manoeuvre,  I  saw  no  one  again  that  night, 
as  I  kept  away  from  the  roads,  and  was  not  under  the 
necessity  of  crossing  any  more.  When  about  four  miles 
from  Merced,  I  altered  my  course  slightly  with  the  in- 
tention of  striking  Bear  Creek;  about  one  or  two  miles 
below  town;  but  losing  my  reckoning,  I  reached  the 
creek  about  five  hundred  yards  from  the  bridge. 

It  was  now  near  daylight,  and  the  fog  was  impene- 
trable to  the  eye,  or  at  least  all  objects  moving  in  it  at  a 
greater  distance  than  fifty  yards.  Having  reached  the 
creek,  and  put  on  my  shoes  (having  walked  all  the  way 
from  the  Half- Way  House  in  my  stocking  feet),  I  pro- 
ceeded up.  By  daylight  I  was  opposite  the  County  Hos- 
pital Farm,  situated  northeast  of  town.  1  cautiously 
passed  beyond  it,  and  as  there  was  a  road  running  on 
each  side  of  the  creek  at  this  point,  I  scrambled  up 
its  banks  and  struck  out  toward  the  foot-hills,  knowing 
that  I  would  not  be  apt  to  encounter  the  mob  off  from 
a  road,  within  a  circle  of  five  miles  from  Merced.  I 
commenced  to  walk  around  a  section  of  land  which  was 
marked  by  a  furrow,  and  which  I  think  belonged  to 
Upton.     I  had  to  keep  walking  to  keep  from  freezing. 

I  was  now  about  two  miles  from  the  Hospital  grounds 
the  hour  about  nine  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  up  to  this  time  I 


11 

had  only  halted  once,  then  for  only  a  second  to  put  on 
my  shoes.  I  was  sick,  tired,  thirsty,  and  commenced  to 
fell  hungry.  I  sat  down  for  awhile  to  rest.  I  was  very  weak 
and  emaciated  from  a  severe  attack  of  bloody  flux,  from 
which  I  had  suffered  several  days  prior  to  the  shooting, 
and  which  continued  during  the  first  two  days  of  my 
wandering.  My  mouth  was  dry  and  parched;  there 
was  no  water  to  be  seen;  I  looked  at  the  grass;  the  fog 
had  made  it  damp;  I  will  try  to  suck  the  dampness  I 
thought;  as  I  was  preparing  to  do  so,  to  my  horror  I 
discovered  that  my  jaws  were  locked.  I  had  doubtless 
clasped  them  firmly  the  night  before,  determined  to  es- 
cape, and  in  my  eagerness  had  not  opened  my  mouth  ; 
and  that,  together  with  the  cold  and  thirst,  had  fastened 
them  vise-like.  I  rubbed  and  worked  nervously  for  sev- 
eral minutes ;  then  I  bethought  me  of  my  printer  rule 
which  was  luckily  in  my  vest  pocket.  With  this  I 
succeeded  in  prying  my  jaws  apart,  and  with  a  few 
crumbs  of  tobacco  which  I  found  in  my  pants'  pocket,  I 
found  relief.  I  then  resumed  my  walk;  would  walk 
around  the  section  and  return  to  my  starting  point.' 
alternately  walking  a  mile  and  resting  for  a  half  hour, 
thus  I  passed  some  three  hours. 

About  noon  the  fog  exhibited  indications  of  clearing 
off,  and  I  thought  it  best  to  hunt  the  shelter  of  some 
friendly  creek,  for  the  double  purpose  of  screening  my- 
self from  view  and  quenching  my  thirst,  which  was  be- 
coming almost  unbearable.  Sick  and  hungry,  I  started 
in  quest  of  Bear  Creek;  and  after  traveling  about  an  hour, 
I  realized  the  fact  that  I  had  become  lost  in  the  fog.  Pre- 
vious to  tli  is  discovery,  I  had  passed  within  sight  of  sev- 
eral houses,  but  not  knowing  all  the  inhuman  wretches 
who  were  hunting  me  down,  I  durst  not  apply  within 
for  food,  and  shelter  from  the  cold,  chilling  fog,  for  fear 
of  encountering  some  one  in  sympathy  with  the  mob,  if 
not  one  of  the  actual  participants.  Upon  finding  that  I 
was  lost,  I  began  to  blame  myself  for  not  going  boldly 


12 

into  one  of  the  several  farm  houses,  making  myself 
known,  requesting  food  and  a  conveyance  to  Fresno  or 
Modesto,  to  deliver  myself  up  to  a  sheriff  who  was  not 
an  actual  participant  in  the  mob,  much  less  in  sympathy 
with  the  same. 

But  I  kept  up  my  courage,  and  tried  to  discover  my 
bearings.  I  thought  I  must  be  somewhere'near  Mariposa 
Creek;  so  trudging  along  for  about  two  hours  longer,  I 
found  that  I  had  guessed  rightly,  and  I  struck  the  above 
mentioned  creek  about  a  mile  or  two  north  of  the  rail- 
road crossing,  and  knew  my  whereabouts  to  a  certainty. 
I  clambered  down  its  steep  banks  on  one  side  and  up  on 
the  other,  when  I  espied  a  man  about  one  hundred  yards 
distant,  armed  with  a  rifle.  Although  the  fog  still  con- 
tinued to  hang  over  the  valley,  I  was  fearful  lest  he  had 
seen  me.  Immediately  upon  sighting  him,  I  couched 
down  in  the  tall  grass,  which  grew  quite  rank  on  the 
banks  of  the  creek  at  this  particular  spot,  and  cautiously 
raised  my  head  to  see  if  I  had  been  discovered;  as  I  did 
so,  I  perceived  he  had  seen  me.  He  was  about  sixty  or 
eighty  yards  off,  was  standing  with  his  face  toward  me, 
and  had  just  made  a  movement  to  approach  my  hiding 
place,  when  with  a  sudden  impulse  I  seized  a  long  shovel 
handle  (which  I  had  picked  up  early  in  the  morning, 
for  use  as  a  walking  stick),  and  lying  flat  on  my  stomach, 
brought  it  to  bear  on  the  man.  My  ruse  was  successful. 
He  evidently  took  the  harmless  weapon  for  a  rifle,  and 
immediately  disappeared  in  the  fog,  going  up  the  creek. 

This  man,  whoever  he  was,  no  doubt,  thinks  to  this 
day,  that  some  one  took  him  for  Granice,  and  that  he  ran 
a  narrow  risk  of  being  shot — with  a  shovel  handle.  As 
I  said  before,  he  took  up  the  creek,  and  I  proceeded 
down,  and  about  four  o'clock  I  struck  the  railroad  cross- 
ing seven  or  eight  miles  from  Merced.  Still  keeping  on 
the  north  side  of  the  track,  I  proceeded  toward  that  town, 
being  careful  to  keep  away  from  the  roads. 

After  proceeding  two  or  three  miles,  I  concluded  to 


13 

get  on  the  other  side  of  the  track;  and  with  that  object 
in  view,  tried  to  catch  a  view  of  the  telegraph  poles,  in 
order  to  find  the  track;  in  a  few  minutes  I  discovered 
them.  In  order  to  change  my  position  to  the  other  side 
of  the  track,  I  would  have  to  cross  two  roads,  one  on 
each  side,  which  was  a  dangerous  undertaking  so  near 
Merced,  in  the  day  time.  But  the  fog  gave  me  courage, 
and  I  started.  I  had  just  crossed  over  the  track,  mean- 
time keeping  my  eyes  on  all  sides  of  me,  when  I  dis- 
covered a  man  riding  along  toward  Merced.  I  immedi- 
ately dropped  flat,  and  he  rode  past,  all  unconcious  of 
my  near  presence.  This  fellow,  I  should  judge  from 
his  paraphranalia — consisting  of  six  shooter,  bowie  knife 
and  gun — was  one  of  the  brave  crowd  whom  I  encount- 
ered the  preceding  night  at  the  Half-Way  House.  The 
horse  was  completely  fagged  out,  and  his  rider  was  evi- 
dently returning  to  Merced  for  a  fresh  movement.  I 
know  you,  sir;  I  saw  you,  but  you  did  not  me.  After 
the  outlines  of  horse  and  rider  faded  away  in  the  foggy 
mist,  I  hurriedly  walked  about  a  half  mile  from  the 
railroad,  intending  to  lay  in  one  of  the  many  little  hol- 
lows thereabouts  and  await  the  coming  of  dark. 

It  was  now  about  half  past  tour.  Up  to  this  time  I 
Had  not  had  a  drop  of  water,  although  I  had  hunted  for 
it  in  creeks  and  "  hog  wallows."  The  cravings  of  appe- 
tite <li<l  not  bother  me  much — my  thirst  was  too  keen. 
Arriving  at  the  point  just  mentioned,  I  discovered  a 
pool  of  muddy  water,  and  getting  on  my  hands  and 
I,  1  proceeded  to  slake  my  thirst.  I  took  one  swal- 
mil  it  burnt  my  throat  like  molten  lead.  It  was 
alkali  water,  and  the  strongest  I  ever  tasted.  It  was  a 
bitter  disappointment,  but  it  was  near  night;  I  was  but  a 
few  miles  from  town,  and  under  the  cover  of  darkness  I 
oouid  .ret  water  and  maybe  something  to  eat. 

Night    ai     1;im    arrived,    and    under   its   sable    folds    J 

ted  lie-  railroad  )><-d,  and    proceeded    on    my    way — 

my  place  of  destination,  Merced.     About  seven  o'clock 


14 

I  reached  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and,  proceeding 
cautiously  to  Fourteenth  street,  through  Chinatown, 
crossed  the  railroad  track  below  the  El  Capitan  Hotel* 
Just  as  I  stepped  on  the  track  two  men  passed  on  their 
way  to  town — evidently  men  from  one  of  the  farms  be- 
yond Merced.  I  was  then  about  five  hundred  yards 
from  my  home,  and  I  determined  at  any  risk  to  find  out 
the  fate  of  my  would  be  brother  and  poor  dear  mother, 
(whom  I  expected  home  on  Monday  night).  Crawling 
on  my  hands  and  knees  to  within  one  hundred  yards  of 
the  house  (which  was  the  last  one  at  the  west  end  of 
Seventeenth  street),  I  watched  for  about  five  minutes  to 
see  if  the  place  was  under  the  surveillance  of  the  mob. 
Discovering  no  indication  of  any  one  on  the  outside,  I 
crept  along,  reached  the  back  door,  and  cautiously  tried 
to  get  a  view  into  the  interior,  but  could  see  nothing,  as 
the  windows  were  covered  with  heavy  curtains.  I  shud- 
dered at  the  gloomy  appearance  of  everything  about  the 
house;  I  wondered  if  any  of  the  family  were  dead  within, 
I  then  opened  the  back  door,  and  looking  in  discov- 
ered the  children  and  a  neighbor  lady,  Mrs,  Keogh. 
When  I  opened  the  door  the  children  ran  off  frightened, 
as  they  did  not  know  who  I  was.  I  hastily  asked  Mrs. 
Keogh  where  the  family  was.  She  replied  M  all  gone/' 
"  Are  they  all  alive  ?"    She  answered  ''yes." 

Just  then  I  heard  a  noise  at  the  front  door  and  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  out  the  back  door.  I  dare  uot  venture 
back  where  there  were  so  many  children,  so  I  went  to 
another  part  of  town,  where  I  knew  almost  to  a  certainty 
those  who  were  thirsting  for  my  blood.  I  ventured  to 
look  into  the  house  of  two  persons  whom  I  did  not  know, 
I  saw  them  through  the  windows  of  their  house,  and 
knew  that  if  they  were  not  friends  they  were  not  ene- 
mies. Going  to  the  door,  I  rapped.  The  door  was 
opened,  and  standing  in  the  dark  I  requested  a  drink  of 
water,  which  was  handed  to  me.  It  was  the  first  water 
I  had  tasted  since  leaving  the  Half- Way  House.  I  then* 
stepped  boldly  into  the  room  and  said; 


15 

•**  I  suppose  you  know  who  I  am?    I  am  Granice." 

They  remarked,  "  Yes." 

"Well,"  said  I,  "give  me  something  to  eat;  I  am  al- 
most starved." 

Something  told  me  there  was  nothing  to  fear  from  these 
people.  Telling  them  to  put  down  the  curtains  and  lock 
the  door,  I  sat  down  to  the  table  and  commenced  to  par- 
take of  a  lunch  which  they  sat  before  me.  I  feared  to 
«at  too  heartily,  as  I  had  not  tasted  food  for  twenty-four 
hours.  After  eating  and  drinking  and  resting  for  about 
=a  half  hour,  I  asked  for  a  hat,  as  mine  had  been  left  at 
the  Half- Way  House  the  night  before.  One  was  given 
me,  and  also  a  blanket,  and  some  victuals  which  I 
strapped  up  in  the  blanket;  and  throwing  the  whole  over 
my  shoulder,  I  signified  my  intention  of  departing,  and 
left  them,  with  the  injunction  to  say  nothing  to  any  one 
•about  seeing  me.  They  gave  me  their  promise,  which 
they  faithfully  kept. 

I  then  took  up  my  weary  march  again.  It  had  been 
walk,  walk,  since  the  preceding  night.  After  leaving  my 
newly-made  acquaintances,  I  struck  off  into  the  chilling 
fog,  hardly  knowing  which  way  to  turn.  I  had  learned 
from  these  people  that  my  brother  and  step-  father  were 
■being  hunted  down  by  Meany  and  his  mob,  and  I  knew 
I  must  get  away  from  the  hot-bed  of  their  rendezvous 
— Merced — as  soon  as  possible  before  day-light  the  next 
morning. 

I  proceeded  toward  Modesto,  on  the  railroad  track,  and 
kept  up  ray  weary  tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  scarcely  able  to 
drag  one  foot  after  the  other,  until  near  morning.  At 
about  four  o'clock  I  reached  a  point  about  four  miles 
from  the  Merced  river  and  one  or  two  from  the  railroad, 
and  could  proceed  no  farther.  Spreading  my  blanket,  a 
single  one,  on  the  fog-damp  earth,  I  laid  down  and  slept 
for  about  an  hour — the  first  rest  and  sleep  for  more  than 
fifty-eight  hours,  unl.-s  it  be  the  short  stop  I  made 
while  at  Merced.    But  the  sleep  did  me  more  harm  than 


16 

good,  as  the  cold  chilled  me  through  and  through,  ant? 
left  my  limbs  so  stiff  that  I  could  scarcely  stand,  much 
less  walk.  I  managed  to  drag  my  weary  body  back  to> 
the  railroad,  and  just  as  I  reached  it  I  saw  a  hand-car 
eoming  down  the  track  at  a  rapid  rate.  It  was  going 
toward  the  Merced  river,  to  the  section  -  house  at  that 
point.  One  white  man  and  four  or  five  Chinamen  were- 
in  the  car.  Hailing  the  man,  he  stopped.  I  asked  for  a 
ride.  He  told  me  to  jump  on,  and  I  did  so,  and  sat  right 
among  the  Chinamen.  I  told  the  man  that  I  was  hunt- 
ing work,  but  had  been  taken  sick  and  was  scarcely  able 
to  travel;  that  I  was  going  to  Modesto,  where  I  had 
friends.  He  said  I  was  welcome  to  a  ride.  I  watched 
him  narrowly,  and  saw  that  he  did  not  suspicion  any- 
thing. I  rode  as  far  as  the  Merced  river  with  him,  and 
as  he  was  going  no  farther,  I  was  obliged  to  get  off.  He- 
will  probably  be  surprised  to  learn  that  that  sick  man 
hunting  for  a  job  was  Granice,  who  at  that  time  was* 
being  hunted  down  for  his  lii'e7  and  for  whom  there  were 
large  imaginary  rewards  offered  for  his  capture.  I  would 
advise  him  not  to  chide  himself  for  his  short-sightedness 
in  not  discovering  whom  I  was,  and  thereby  letting  the 
reward  slip  through  his  hands,  as  I  can  assure  him,  had 
he  captured  me,  he  would  have  received  not  one  dime  for 
his  pains. 

Sick,  worn  out,  footsore,  not  knowing  the  fate  of  my 
poor  mother,  brother  and  step-father,  I  cautiously  ap- 
proached the  saloon  at  Chessy  station,  and  peering 
through  the  window  without  being  seen,  I  saw  six  or 
seven  men  sitting  around  the  stove;  I  recognized  but  one 
among  the  number;  the  rest  were  strangers  to  me. 
Knowing  my  enemies,  I  saw  at  a  glance  there  were  none 
among  those  men.  Half  frozen  and  famished,  I  walked 
fearlessly  into  the  bar-room,  and  took  a  seat  by  the  stove. 
Addressing  the  bar-keeper,  I  asked  for  a  glass  of  brandy. 
He  evidently  saw  from  my  appearance  that  I  was  very 
sick,  and  needed  a  strong  stimulant;  and  filling  a  glass 


17 

half  full  of  brandy,  he  handed  it  to  me;  taking  it,  I 
drained  every  drop.  I  then  commenced  to  warm  my 
half-frozen  body,  but  during  the  operation  I  was  very 
silent.  In  a  few  minutes  I  felt  revived,  and  I  told  the 
•men  that  I  was  on  my  way  to  Modesto  afoot,  but  that  I 
wma  sick,  and  did  not  think  I  could  hardly  make  the 
trip. 

My  acquaintance  in  the  meantime  said  nothing,  and 
did  not  even  appear  to  recognize  me.  At  last  I  succeeded 
in  getting  him  to  one  side,  and  told  him  I  wanted  to  get 
to  Modesto  by  some  means.  He  said  he  could  not  help 
me,  but  would  not  inform  on  me.  He  told  me  he  knew 
the  men  present,  and  that  they  would  help  me,  if  any- 
thing, to  get  out  of  the  clutches  of  the  mob.  I  told  him 
I  wanted  to  be  kept  out  of  Meany's  hands;  also  that  he 
was  in  with  the  mob,  to  my  way  of  thinking.  He  said 
-they  all  understood  that;  that  they,  the  men,  would  see 
me  safely  through.  Here  I  eat  breakfast,  after  which  I 
went  and  hid  myself  in  a  barn.  Peeping  through  the 
•cracks  of  the  same,  I  saw  Meany  and  some  of  the  mob, 
Just  as  the  afternoon  train  arrived,  talking  to  one  of  the 
men  I  had  seen  in  the  saloon,  and  I  thought  I  would  be 
vered  sure.  But  in  a  few  minutes  the  sheriff  and 
posse  (?)  left,  going  up  the  river.  I  had  guessed  rightly; 
the  men  did  not  suspect  me;  if  they  did,  they  kept  their 
own  counsel. 

I  learned,  during  the  afternoon,  that  my  mother  was 
on  that  train  on  her  way  to  Merced,  and  that  some  one 
toad  whispered  in  her  ear,  your  son  is  thus  far  safe.  This 
was  a  great  relief  to  me,  for  I  had  feared  for  her  safety; 
I  knew  that  rumors  must  have  reached  her  of  my  being 
bunted  down,  and  of  the  uncertainty  of  my  escape  from 
the  mob,  and  I  knew  that  her  agony  must  be  terrible. 

I  remained  hid  in  the  barn  until  nightfall,  when  I  ven- 
tured fort  h,  and  was  guided  by  two  friends  to  a  good  hid- 
ing plaoe,  fcheJt  main  object  being  to  keep  me  out  of  the 
clniehee  of  the  mob,  ae  1  Informed  them  that  I  did  not 


18 

wish  to  evade  the  law,  but  wanted  to  reach  Modestc 
when  I  could  do  so  with  safety.  I  did  not  look  upon 
Meany  as  an  officer,  as  he,  to  my  knowledge,  mixed  with 
the  mob,  and  deputized  some  of  the  ring  leaders  as  his 
posse.  I  have  his  own  word  for  this,  because  he  told 
me,  while  returning  with  me  to- Modesto  from  my  exam- 
ination at  Merced,  that  there  was  not  a  half-dozen  men 
out  but  what  he  had  deputized.  I  laid  hid  in  my  new 
retreat,  which  was  in  a  barn,  some  four  or  five  miles  from 
Cressy  Station.  This  barn  was  filled  with  hay,  and  I 
burrowed  a  hole,  got  into  it,  covered  it  up,  and  lay  hid 
all  day,  venturing  forth  at  night  only,  to  stretch  my 
aching  limbs  and  to  get  water. 

While  hid  in  this  barn,  I  suffered  from  cold,  hunger 
and  thirst. 

While  hid  here,  the  mob  was  hunting  for  me  every- 
where, and  whenever  the  cowardly  crew  came  to  a 
thicket  of  willows  that  they  feared  to  inspect  closely  or 
in  which  they  thought  I  might  be  hid,  they  fired  into 
the  same.  The  firing  was  distinctly  seen  and  heard  by 
myself  at  one  particular  point  on  the  Merced  river.  In> 
the  corral  of  the  barn  in  which  I  lay  hid  there  were  a 
dozen  or  so  of  fine  horses,  out  of  which  I  could  have- 
taken  my  pick,  bad  I  desired  to  effect  my  escape,  but 
that  was  far  from  my  intention*  I  was  determined  not 
to  flee  if  I  could  possibly  reach  Modesto  in  safety.  Had 
I  have  had  no  opportunity  to  have  done  so,  as  a  last  re- 
sort I  would  have  armed  myself,  mounted  a  good 
horse,  and  leading  another,  struck  a  bee  line  for  Mex- 
ico. Knowing  the  country  so  well,  and  for  other  reasons- 
which  I  will  not  mention  here,  I  could  have  reached  that 
country  without  fear  of  arrest;  and  after  stopping  there 
six  months  or  a  year,  I  would  have  returned  and  stood 
my  ttiaL 

Luckily,  I  had  an  opportunity  to  reach  Modesto,  but 
not  without  incurring  a  great  risk  from  the  mob,  whom 
I  had  to  dodge  on  every  hand  in  order  to  reach  Cressy 


19 

Station,  where,  under  the  protection  of  five  friends,  I 
took  passage  to  Modesto  on  Saturday  morning.  Arriv- 
ing there  at  seven  o'clock,  I  immediately  went  to  the 
Ross  House,  eat  my  breakfast,  and  then  sent  a  messenger 
in  quest  of  the  sheriff.  He  being  out  of  town,  his 
deputy,  Chas.  Aull,  came  into  the  parlor.  I  was  intro- 
duced, to  him,  and  gave  myself  into  his  custody.  That 
night  the  sheriff  called  out  a  large  number  of  men  to 
prevent  a  set  of  scoundrels  from  Merced  from  mobbing 
me. 

I  have  written  this  simple,  uncolored,  true  statement 
of  facts  in  justice  to  Nick  Breen,  as  Mr.  Fleming,  the 
deputy  sheriff,  told  my  mother  that  Mr.  Meany  had  or- 
dered Mr.  Breen  to  take  me  to  Modesto,  and  that  he 
(Breen)  had  disobeyed  orders.  My  mother  went  imme- 
diately to  Mr.  Breen  and  asked  him  if  what  Mr.  Flem- 
ing said  was  true.  "  No,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "  I  wanted  to  take 
Harry  to  Modesto,  but  Meany's  strict  orders  were,  the 
Half- Way  House." 


The  following  beautiful  poem  was  written  after  the 
authoress  had  spent  several  hours  in  jail  with  the  pris- 
oner in  company  with  his  mother,  in  which  time  they  all 
dined  together;  the  meal  being  furnished  from  a  res- 
taurant by  his  mother.  Young  Harry  acted  as  host, 
calm  and  dignified,  though  pale  from  confinement  and 
want  of  sun  and  air: 

THE  FATAL  SLANDER  ;  OR,  HARRY'S   DEFENSE. 

BY  MBS.  L.  E.  DBASE. 

The  sun  was  shining  bright  without,  where  happy  faces  smiled, 
Bat  within  the  lonesome  prison  walls  sat  one  so  pale  and  mild; 
No  sigh  escaped  his  peaceful  lips,  no  tear  bedimmed  his  eye, 
Though  weary  from  the  waiting  to  know  if  he  must  die. 

Kind  stranger,  do  you  wish  to  know  what  is  the  prisoner's  crime  ? 
Twas  because  some  cruel  monster  his  mother  did  malign, 
Which  roused  the  sleeping  passions  of  anger,  hate  and  strife, 
When  in  a  time  unguarded  he  took  the  offender's  life. 


'      20 

"  Oh  now,"  said  he,  "  I'm  ready  to  answer  fur  this  crime; 
You  see  I've  killed  the  villain  my  mother  did  malign- 
That  mother  who  has  cherished  me  through  all  my  childhood  days, 
And  rocked  me  on  her  hosom  when  weary  of  my  plays; 

That  mother,  who  in  her  early  years  her  orphan  boy  has  led 
O'er  weary  wastes  and  craggy  p^aks,  to  earn  our  daily  bread, 
Far  over  snow-capped  mountains  and  through  the  sunny  glens, 
To  sell  her  own  productions— her  books— to  stranger  men; 

That  mother,  who  at  midnight  hours,  when  daily  toils  were  o'er, 
And  millions,  on  their  downy  beds  inside  their  palace  door 
Were  resting  from  all  sorrow  while  she,  who  forced  to  roam, 
Sat  writing  by  the  camp-fire— an  authoress,  with  no  home. 

How  many,  many  were  the  days,  when  I  was  but  a  child, 
I  stood  beside  that  mother,  and  watched  her  pen  the  while, 
Until  her  hand  grew  weary  ;  her  mind  would  fain  have  rest. 
But  the  publisher  was  waiting  ;  the  book,  her  child  might  bless. 

Thus  months  and  years  rolled  onward;  when  childhood's  days  were  done, 

I  stood  beside  that  mother,  a  faithful,  happy  son. 

For  years  we  toiled  together,  with  books  and  pen  and  type, 

In  hopes  the  future  had  for  us  a  home — Oh,  happy  sight  1 

But  ah  !  stern  fate,  how  cruel !  when  men  who  mock  our  laws, 
And  strive  with  unrelenting  hand  to  find  some  legal  cause 
To  murder  every  cherished  hope  with  slander's  cruel  knife, 
And  drop  by  drop  to  steal  away  poor  woman's  helpless  life." 

'Twas  slander  vile,  young  Harry  saw  upon  the  printed  page; 
His  mother  dear,  the  victim,  which  caused  the  fires  to  rage; 
His  cheeks  grew  pale  with  anguish,  his  heart  could  know  no  fear; 
He  only  thought  of  days  gone  by,  and  mother's  name  so  dear. 

He  only  thought  of  years  agone,  when  mother's  face  was  young; 
Her  arms  were  strong  and  willing,  then,  to  guard  her  little  son; 
But  times  have  changed  that  youthful  face,  and  age  is  creeping  on, 
While  he,  in  early  manhood  now,  must  be  the  stronger  one. 

Shall  he  defend  his  mother's  name  ?  No  duty  is  too  great, 
Though  prison  walls  or  gallows  high  for  him  will  anxious  wait; 
And  now  within  the  lonely  jail  young  Harry  waits  his  doom; 
Though  it  be  liberty  or  death,  the  time  must  shortly  come. 

Oh,  mothers  dear  and  fathers,  too  !  Oh,  women,  weak  or  strong  ! 
Kemember  Harry's  cause  is  yours,  for  you  he's  suffered  long; 
'Twas  not  for  gold  or  laurel  wreath,  'twas  not  for  praise  or  fame, 
'Twas  not  for  love  of  honors  great,  but  love  of  woman's  name. 


HV£5~33 
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1V5~ 


